Art flourishes in the mountain west

Art Business News, May, 2003 by Kathryn Peterson

Known as the Crossroads of the West, Salt Lake City and its more than 100 art galleries showcase a unique collection of work by local, national and international artists.

"Although the art community in Utah isn't well-known, it is exciting and something to be discovered. The art here is fresh and more organic compared to other metropolitan cities," said Meri DeCaria, director of Phillips Gallery, which features local contemporary artists.

Nestled at the foot of two mountain ranges--the Wasatch to the east and the Oquirrh to the west--newcomers to Salt Lake bask in outdoor pleasures such as hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking. The city is also a thriving cultural center with one of the nation's finest symphony orchestras, a world-class opera, an illustrious choir--and myriad art galleries.

The best opportunity to see what Salt Lake's visual arts community has to offer is at the Gallery Stroll held on the third Friday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. For nearly 20 years, the Stroll has been a growing phenomenon in Utah's cultural environment. Kent Rigby, president of the Salt Lake Gallery Association, estimates that close to 2,000 people visit 25 participating galleries during the event each month.

"We want the Stroll to be an informal way to enjoy Salt Lake's visual arts. People don't have to go to New York or San Francisco to find great art because there are many excellent galleries right here," Rigby said.

Artwork on the Stroll ranges from traditional landscapes of the surrounding area to modern abstract and neo-Expressionist works by Utah's established and emerging artists alike. The strolls offer examples of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, installations, mixed media and other artistic expressions.

"We have our own regional, distinctive style. There's a strong traditional and contemporary art market here," Rigby said.

Many of the galleries carefully plan their opening nights around the self-guided tours. Light refreshments, live music and a relaxing, yet invigorating atmosphere encourage guests to move at their own pace through the galleries that pique their interest. Featured artists are generally present on Stroll nights, engaging in conversation, as well as painting while the public walks through the galleries.

The Phillips Gallery features 80 local artists and uses the Stroll to highlight up-and-coming artists. Meri DeCaria said up to 250 people visit the gallery every third Friday. Phillips' three floors of art contrast artists such as Ron Clayton's large landscapes with Dale Bryner's miniature pencil drawings. In May, Phillips Gallery will highlight the sophisticated yet quirky paintings of trompe l'oeil artist Tony Smith.

The city's dominant Mormon presence also influences the distinctive regional landscape and figure paintings. "The community has very creative people," DeCaria explained. "When a society has a strong religious following, they're either artistically suppressed or inspired. In this case, there has been much inspiration."

Many gallery owners in Salt Lake agree that most contemporary artists who find success in this city spur their craft to a higher level because of the city's religiously dominated market. Traditional religious art includes paintings of church leaders and landscapes with religious significance.

But the majority of galleries feature non-religious themes. The A Gallery has paintings and fused glass art that appeal to a wider range of enthusiasts. New York native Jessica Huston, one of the national artists featured at the gallery, creates bright, colorful figure paintings. Other media, such as pottery, ceramics, bronzes, sculptures and three-dimensional art, grace the gallery's floors.

The Salt Lake Art Center features Seattle-based artist Cris Bruch's "Dreaming, Doing, Craving" exhibit. Bruch creates sculptures exploring everyday rituals and cycles. "Duty Cycle," the principal focal point of the exhibition, is a large white disc, 17 feet in diameter, formed from milk-carton paper and suspended from the ceiling. It spins on its axis, making slow revolutions, which, for the artist, are reminiscent of the repetitive chores he routinely performed as a boy growing up in the Midwest.

Artspace Forum features the works of Laura Crawford, originally from Kenya. Crawford describes herself as a contemporary abstract impressionist whose multimedia interpretations are both complex and sensual. Her work will be on display through July.

The David Ericson Fine Art Gallery displays the work of Lee Udall Bennion, a figure painter who deals with women's issues. "Some would consider her the best current active artist in Utah--she's in every local museum. Her paintings depict her life and the people around her," owner David Ericson said.

The annual Utah Arts Festival casts an even more eclectic spotlight on the Salt Lake art community. This year's festival, which will be held June 19 to 22 in Library Square, features multiple genres such as painting, sculpture, jewelry, glasswork, poetry and performance art. Multi-cultural food is served and nationally known artists perform concerts in the evenings, and the event attracts city newcomers and natives alike.